Dave Robicheaux is back, in a gorgeously written, visceral thriller by James Lee Burke, “the heavy weight champ, a great American novelist whose work, taken individually or as a whole, is unsurpassed” (Michael Connelly).

Creole Belle begins where the last book in the Dave Robicheaux series, The Glass Rainbow, ended. Dave is in a recovery unit in New Orleans, where a Creole girl named Tee Jolie Melton visits him and leaves him an iPod with the country blues song “Creole Belle” on it. Then she disappears. Dave becomes obsessed with the song and the memory of Tee Jolie and goes in search of her sister, who later turns up inside a block of ice floating in the Gulf. Meanwhile, there has been an oil well blowout on the Gulf, threatening the cherished environs of the bayous. Creole Belle is James Lee Burke at his very best, with beloved series hero Dave Robicheaux leading the charge against the destruction of both the land and the people he has sworn to protect. Download and start listening now!

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Quotes & Awards

“Nobody can touch Burke in the lyrical expression of howling grief…[Creole Belle is] a novel that shows how the sins of the fathers poison the ground their children walk on.”

New York Times Book Review

“All the characters…are superbly drawn, and the plot is heart-pounding…sure to be embraced by author James Lee Burke’s fans.”

Washington Post

“Gripping.”

People

“Creole Belle may be one of Burke’s best.”

San Antonio Express

“The plot is fast-moving and thriller-tough, the bodies mount quickly, and the writing is lyrical and evocative.”

New Orleans Times-Picayune

“Creole Belle is a work of dark and radiant brilliance.”

Richmond Times-Dispatch

A New York Times Bestseller

A Booklist Top 10 Crime Fiction Audiobook in 2013

A USA Today Bestseller

A Publishers Weekly Bestseller

Listener Opinions

Donna Ziegler | 2/13/2014

" I hate to think that I might be finished with Dave Robicheaux but this latest book was way too long for me. Dave and Clete continue to administer their own brand of justice regardless of the powers that be but Dave's ruminations on the nature of evil are getting old. "

Maryann | 2/7/2014

" Powerful narrative and complex characters are my favorite things about James Lee Burke; he tells a hell of a story too. Fresh from a near death encounter, both Dave and Clete are thrown into a complex and shadowy world where nothing is as it seems for more than a moment at a time. Sure there are bad guys, but over everything hangs an ebony aura of evil that appears impregnable. What starts as a late night visit everyone but Dave believes is an hallucination blossoms into a roller-coaster ride, twisting and turning, flipping and backtracking but always keeping the characters and circumstances marching toward the inevitable end; as Dave, but mostly Clete, hears the "paddleboat on the bayou" coming for them. I finished this one as I always do, with a lump in my throat and the hopes that Dave Robicheuax and Clete Purcell will forever be the Bobbsey Twins from Homicide. Great read. "

Johnplavelle | 1/28/2014

" It seems as if JLB is concerned more with death now. Is he trying to get this book made into a movie, John Goodman to play the role of Clete??? John Goodman has already played a part in The Electric Mist as a movie that went straight to DVD. He did play Clete though, he was one of JLB's bad guys. "

Arleen | 1/19/2014

" Five stars for atmosphere and characters. Not so much for plot. I listened to this on audiobook which is the best for this series. Will patton as narrator gets five stars. "

Mary Lou | 1/11/2014

" Rats! I think I would have liked this book so much more if I had not tried to read it while watching the Olympics. The plot was confusing and I didn't like any of his female characters. I usually love JLB. So next time, I won't try to read while watching sports! "

Janice "Princess" | 1/8/2014

" Typical James Lee Burke, which means that it is terrific, he is a poet who writes prose. "

Mark Smidt | 1/2/2014

" Excellent book, as usual. Some great writing that I want to bookmark. "

Suzanne | 12/10/2013

" I love Dave Robicheaux and Clete Purcell too! "

Courtney | 12/8/2013

" Like a fine wine, James Lee Burke just gets better with age. A very wise man and another delicious read. "

Mark Walsh | 12/7/2013

" Enjoyed it. I have enjoyed all of the Dave and Clete series. However, this one lacked some focus and is certainly in the second tier of the series. "

Maryellen Woodside | 12/1/2013

" James Lee Burke has penned another fine entry in his Dave Robicheaux series. Readers of the series and other fans of literary mysteries will not want to miss this book. "

Shirley | 12/1/2013

" Wonderful book. Keep writing, James Lee! "

Judy | 11/24/2013

" James Lee Burke has written another masterpiece. "

Jo Anne | 10/18/2013

" As always, a beautifully written book from Mr. Burke. The only advice I would give other readers is: don't read two Dave Robicheaux novels back to back. The violence and evil portrayed in these books are hard on one's soul. "

Jeffrey Hammerhead | 8/18/2013

" As in his previous books, I was captured my Burke's use of the language and the visions he paints. An excellant read. "

Debra | 6/28/2013

" James Lee Burke writes with a fierce, brutal elegance, sugarcoating nothing as his characters search for justice. "

Bill | 4/20/2013

" Another great read. James Lee Burke always produces a great narrative, which flows well in this book. The story line is much better than several of his recent books. I highly recommend this book. "

Sarah Evans | 4/15/2013

" The best book of the series! I absolutely loved it. Moving on from the events of glass rainbow was always going to be hard, but this delivered.... And then some! Incredible!! "

Katy | 3/11/2013

" I like Dave Robicheaux (sp?) as a detective. I liked the story. Not the best I've read, but I'd probably read it again. "

Louie Haltom | 12/22/2012

" he gets better with age "

Gale Martin | 8/31/2012

" Not my favorite in the Dave Robicheaux series, but I did love that Clete was nearly the star of this book. "

Carolgene | 7/12/2012

" James Lee Burke, always a great read, I'm not sure if he and Clete won the war this time, they seem to be losing ground as time gains a hold. "

Other Titles by James Lee Burke:

About the Author

James Lee Burke, a rare winner of two Edgar Awards and named Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America, is the author of more than thirty novels and two collections of short stories, including numerous New York Times bestsellers. His novel The Lost-Get Back Boogie was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, and two of his books, Heaven’s Prisoners and Two for Texas, have been made into motion pictures.

About the Narrator

Will Patton is an award-winning actor and narrator. HIs narration of Stephen King’s Doctor Sleep earned the prestigious Audie Award for Best Fiction Narration in 2014. He has also won dozens of AudioFile Earphones Awards for his narrations. He starred in the TNT miniseries Into the West and on the CBS series The Agency and won Obie Awards in the theater for his performances in Fool for Love and What Did He See. He has appeared in a host of films, including A Mighty Heart with Angelina Jolie, Knucklehead, Brooklyn’s Finest, and Dog Days of Summer. His many television credits include The Agency, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, 24, and Numb3rs.

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